Question for long time roller mat users

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Been running filter rollers for years now. The earlier models had issues and people 'shun' technology. I've had a 1st gen Klir which was trash, and I currently have 3 different bubble magus filter rollers in service currently. Using coolant filter paper to save a few bucks on rolls versus the bubble magus brand stuff. I'm more than happy with them and will never go back to socks. With the filter rollers, I can easily go 14+ days between touching my systems for anything. My rolls typically last 8-10 weeks on average.

 

[vpierce3]

I have the Gen 2 Bubble Magus. It works flawlessly and is dead silent. I get about 5 weeks out of a role. My suggestion is to buy an oversized model so that the role lasts longer. You’ll only spend a couple bucks more per role but it will be more cost effective.
Also wait for filter roles to go on sale and buy in bulk. I recently did this and got my roles for $18 each.
Filter socks suck and I hope I never see one again.
Also if your nutrients are high, try to keep your sump/fuge clean. Blow your rocks down. Be careful with biopellets….once they start to work, they can tank your nutrients and then comes the dinos (that happened to me 7 yrs ago).

 

[hart24601]

I have been running a reefmat 1200 since they came out without any issues at all. I have been pleased and would get it again. I previously ran socks for over a decade, the same ones, so they are cost effective but I got tired of changing them.

on my IM150 attached to a downstairs 150g Rubbermaid sump I have been averaging 40” a day over the past couple months. So I get about 35 days from a roll. I feed very heavily with around 30 dartfish in the display and hundreds of crabs and snails.

 

[nldemo]

Also if your nutrients are high, try to keep your sump/fuge clean. Blow your rocks down. Be careful with biopellets….once they start to work, they can tank your nutrients and then comes the dinos (that happened to me 7 yrs ago).

My nutrients tanking would be a godsend. I run a FOWLR and they currently test off the charts :/

 

[nldemo]

I can easily go 14+ days between touching my systems for anything. My rolls typically last 8-10 weeks on average.

Any strategies for if you're going on vacation and the roll will run out while you're gone? or just let it be?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Any strategies for if you're going on vacation and the roll will run out while you're gone? or just let it be?

If it runs out, I don't worry about it. Just will swap the roll when I get back.

 

[Mark Gray]

I have considered using one of these, but to me I am thinking it's really something else to maintain. I run a Triton sump with no socks mud in the bottom of my fuge, I cut a bit of Cheto back now and then. I do not dose Triton though. I do run a Deltec skimmer and an Avast Marine Ozone reactor, one of the best purchases I have made. Would really like to know why run a roller mat?

 

[ReefRondo]

I currently run 3 Clarisea filters and love them. Had multiple issues with a Gen 1 but they sorted all of that out and even sent me parts for free more than once. I’d like to try the reef mat next but will need to wait until one of these breaks down. Never going back to socks!

 

[srit1]

coolant ? is that the brand?

No, its just what I've called it, not really sure why. https://preconfilter.com/products this is where I get mine from, but I email them and order a custom size. The most recent time I asked for this:
"10 rolls, 9" x 100 yds. 80 micron, 2" ID core, rayon/polyester roll"

One of the nice things about this route is the options you have with the micron sizing.

 

[Floyd-]

No issues with my Reefmat 1200. I average about 20" a day so that nets me about 2.5 months out of a roll. My tank is nice and clean and I dont have to bother with stupid socks anymore.

 

[haitian_reefer]

I have considered using one of these, but to me I am thinking it's really something else to maintain. I run a Triton sump with no socks mud in the bottom of my fuge, I cut a bit of Cheto back now and then. I do not dose Triton though. I do run a Deltec skimmer and an Avast Marine Ozone reactor, one of the best purchases I have made. Would really like to know why run a roller mat?

I predict down the road you’ll make the switch and wish you did it sooner

 

[hart24601]

I have considered using one of these, but to me I am thinking it's really something else to maintain. I run a Triton sump with no socks mud in the bottom of my fuge, I cut a bit of Cheto back now and then. I do not dose Triton though. I do run a Deltec skimmer and an Avast Marine Ozone reactor, one of the best purchases I have made. Would really like to know why run a roller mat?

If you are happy with your system and how it’s working with no mechanical filtration then there is no need to add one. For me I tried without anything as well but had particulates in the water and a lot of sump detritus I cleaned out every month or two. If that isn’t an issue for you, or reducing nutrients via mechanical export then no reason to buy. Like all equipment in the hobby they have their use but are not mandatory for all systems.

 

[Mark Gray]

If you are happy with your system and how it’s working with no mechanical filtration then there is no need to add one. For me I tried without anything as well but had particulates in the water and a lot of sump detritus I cleaned out every month or two. If that isn’t an issue for you, or reducing nutrients via mechanical export then no reason to buy. Like all equipment in the hobby they have their use but are not mandatory for all systems.

At first I did have particles in the water, but I don't now water is Cristal clear, maybe due to the mud cheato and pods. Not really sure where it all goes but it is digested by the tank, it's 5 years or so old I have never touched the sump for cleaning just to cut back cheato.

 

[LPS Bum]

Depends on the bio load. I set mine to 2.0-2.2" a week ago but wasn't happy with the consumption rate, so I've adjusted it back down to 1.0-1.2". This is for a 200-gallon system with 50 fish and 250+ inverts, mind you.

That makes sense then. At 2 inches you're advancing a ton of roll each time it gets dirty. Even at an inch it'll go through the rolls pretty quickly.

But if that works for you, then that's great. I agree that you have a high bio load. My reef is 164 gallons but only has 13 fish in it, so I can afford to advance a lot less roll at a time.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

I have had my Reefmat 500 for 6 months now. I've only changed out my filter roll once, the 2nd roll is almost spent. So i'm averaging 3 months per roll at $17 each. Best money i've ever spent in this hobby.

 

[hart24601]

At first I did have particles in the water, but I don't now water is Cristal clear, maybe due to the mud cheato and pods. Not really sure where it all goes but it is digested by the tank, it's 5 years or so old I have never touched the sump for cleaning just to cut back cheato.

So in this situation I wouldn’t add a roller mat despite liking mine. Doesn’t seem you would gain anything. Every system varies so much.

 

[vpierce3]

My nutrients tanking would be a godsend. I run a FOWLR and they currently test off the charts :/

It’s good to get them down. I was cautioning against biopellets stripping the tank of nutrients. I should have worded it better.

 

[nldemo]

It’s good to get them down. I was cautioning against biopellets stripping the tank of nutrients. I should have worded it better.

No nutrients is the goal!

 

[nldemo]

I have considered using one of these, but to me I am thinking it's really something else to maintain. I run a Triton sump with no socks mud in the bottom of my fuge, I cut a bit of Cheto back now and then. I do not dose Triton though. I do run a Deltec skimmer and an Avast Marine Ozone reactor, one of the best purchases I have made. Would really like to know why run a roller mat?

I think a rollermat is just another option, but it sounds like you're covered already with mud and a fuge. A lot of sumps don't have space for both a fuge and a skimmer. So you have that going for you

I don't see any reason to add a mat unless you had stuff getting into your sump that you don't want, as previously mentioned.

 

[vpierce3]

No nutrients is the goal!

For me low nutrients is the goal. Gotta have some. IME. But YMMV.